Forging machine die mechanism with



March 17, 1964 A R 3,124,816

FORGING MACHI'NE'DIE MECHANISM WITH ADDITIONAL BLANK GRIPPING MEANS Filed June 22, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG I INVENTOR.

ALBERT R. KULL ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 A. R. KULL 3,124,316

FORGING MACHINE DIE MECHANISM wrm ADDITIONAL BLANK GRIPPING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1961 FIG 4 INVENTOR; ALBERT R, KULL ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 A. R. KULL 3,

FORGING MACHINE DIE MECHANISM WITH ADDITIONAL BLANK GRIPPING MEANS Filed June 22, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG 3 IN VEN TOR.

ALBERT R. KULL gherlmmflkgdlomwllg ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,124,816 FQRGWG MACHINE DE MECHANISM WITH ADDITIONAL BLANK GRIPPING MEANS Albert R. Krill, Beachwood, Ohio, assignor to The Ajax Manufacturing Company, Euclid, Ohio, a corporation Filed June 22, 1961, Ser. No. 118,806 13 Claims. (Cl. -12) This invention relates generally, as indicated, to a forging machine die mechanism and more particularly to the gripping die mechanism of a forging machine of the header type that upsets the protruding ends of elongated cylindrical workpieces.

In forging machines of the type wherein a moving die and a stationary die are employed to grip a cylindrical elongated blank or workpiece in a plurality of vertically spaced positions while a header die acts on the projecting end of such workpiece, the gripping pressure exerted by such gripping die may be insufficient properly to hold the workpiece when upset by the heading die. If the stock or workpiece is improperly gripped, the header die will cause the workpiece longitudinally to slide through the gripping dies and if a back-stop is employed, the stock will, of course, buckle. Also, the stock may become jammed or wedged in the header die and when the header die is retracted, the stock may be pulled longitudinally from the gripping dies. In either case, continued automatic operation of the machine is precluded and serious damage to the machine and especially the dies may result.

Since it is impossible to maintain stock tolerances so that each elongated cylindrical workpiece is of exactly uniform diameter, it can readily be seen that if the workpiece is undersize it may not be properly gripped by the gripping dies in a machine of this type. Thus, undersize workpieces cannot be gripped properly by the stock receiving cavities in the gripping dies to be held firmly to withstand the pressure exerted by the heading or upsetting dies.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a gripping die mechanism for forging machines which Will exert a uniform high gripping pressure on such stock regardless of variations in the diameters thereof.

It is another important object to provide a gripping die mechanism for forging machines which will preclude the work from moving longitudinally as the result of the heading or upsetting operation on the projecting end of the workpiece.

It is yet another important object to provide a simplified improvement in gripping die mechanisms of forging machines enabling such more firmly to hold cylindrical workpieces.

It is a still further object to provide a hydraulic backup for the gripping dies of a forging machine more firmly to hold workpieces therein.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of theforegoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodi- 3,124,815 Patented Mar, 17, 1%64 "Ice ment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

PEG. 1 is a top plan view of a commercially available Ajax forging machine well-known in the art modified in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of such forging machine taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with parts thereon broken away;

FIG. 3 is a Vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

Referring now more particularly to said annexed drawings and especially to FIG. 1 thereof, the embodiment of the present invention illustrated herein is adapted tobe installed on a forging machine of well-known type which may comprise a main frame 1 carrying a fixed'or stationary die 2". opposed to a cooperating movable die 3 mounted upon a reciprocable die slide When die 3 has been reciprocated toward die 2 to grip the blank B therebetween, a heading die or tool 5 carried by a header slide 6 may be reciprocated axially of such blank or generally normal to the direction of reciprocation of the die 3 to upset the protruding end thereof to form, for example, an hexagonal bolt head or, in the particular machine illustrated, to cold extrude starting motor shafts. Both the header slide 6 and the die slide 4 are driven from the crankshaft of the machine which is powered by an electric motor 7 operative to drive a large flywheel 8 provided with an air clutch and brake shown generally at 9.

The stationary die 2 may be comprised of a series of die blocks held in place by die clamps 1t and 11 and likewise the movable die 3 may be comprised of a plurality of die blocks held by clamps 12 and 13. The stationary and moving dies are provided with a plurality of opposed cooperating cavities which serve to grip the workpieces and a transfer mechanism shown generally at 15 is employed to move the workpieces down through such opposed cavities to be positioned at the forging stations provided thereby. The heading tool 5 will be provided with corresponding cavities adapted to engage and upset the protruding ends of blanks B held in the respective forging stations.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that such transfer mechanism 15 is mounted on a bracket 16 which is in turn mounted on the header slide cover plate 17. Long bolts 13 fastening the bracket to the plate may extend through the plate to the bed frame. The transfer mechanism is actuated by a piston-cylinder assembly 19 mounted on such bracket 16 with the rod of such piston-cylinder assembly being connected to a vertically movable transfer finger Zti. As illustrated, a guide rod 21 extends through bushing 22 in bracket 16 to guide the transfer fingers for vertical movement. A similar guide 23 may be provided at the bottom of the forging stations.

The transfer fingers are provided with a series of vertically equally spaced notches 2-4 which receive the blanks B to transfer them along resiliently mounted guides 25 opposed to the transfer members 29. Each of the two guides 25 is mounted on a pair of vertically spaced rods 26 as shown more clearly in FIG. 3 which extend through the stationary dies 2, such dies being provided with bushings 27 and 28 and through portion 29 of the bed frame 1 into adapter plate 30 mounted on the finished end thereof. Pneumatic piston-cylinder assemblies 31 mounted on such adapter plate 36 may be employed to exert a constant resilient pressure on the guide members 25 while the machine is in operation. In the illustrated embodiment, such piston-cylinder assemblies may have a 1% inch bore and a 1 inch stroke. These then produce a resilient pressure on guides 25 tending to move them to the left as seen in FIG. 3 to cooperate with the transfer fingers 20 to hold and move the blanks B down through the various forging stations provided in the movable die 3 and the stationary die 2. The blanks B may be fed to an initial gauging position shown generally at from a hopper and chute shown at 36. Vertical reciprocation of the transfer fingers will cause the blanks B to be moved or slid downwardly along the guides 25 to be positioned at the various vertically spaced work stations to be gripped by the gripping dies.

Reference may be had to my copending application, Serial No. 118,853, filed even date herewith, entitled Feed Mechanism for Forging Machines, for a more complete disclosure of the details and operation of such transfer mechanism.

The forging tool 5 may be held in the header slide 6 by a tool holder clamp 40 (see FIG. 2) and such clamp may be bolted directly to the header slide as shown at 41 and 42. An adjustably mounted gauging mechanism 43 may be mounted therein which includes a threaded stud 44 which may have a spring plunger 45 mounted in the end thereof adapted to engage the blank B to move the same against a gauging stop 46 properly to position the work to be transferred by the transfer mechanism 15 down through the forging stations. A tool holder wedge 47 may be employed cooperating with the clamp 40 holding the forging tool in the header slide.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the forging tool 5 extends beyond the face of the header slide 6 to leave an opening 48 between the face of the header slide and the gripping dies when in its extended position. A safety mechanism generally shown at 50 includes an arm adapted to swing into position in front of the tool 5 in its retracted position. Such safety mechanism is mounted for oscillation on a shaft 51 which is in turn mounted in bearings 52 and 53 which are fastened on header slide cover plate 54. Such shaft and accordingly the arm are driven for oscillation by arm 55 having a roller follower 56 thereon which engages a linear cam '57 mounted on the header slide 6 so that reciprocation of the header slide will cause regulated oscillation of the shaft 51 and thus the safety mechanism 50. The safety mechanism may be employed to sense the position of any blanks B which are pulled longitudinally out of the gripping dies by becoming wedged or jammed in the tool 5. For a more complete disclosure of such safety mechanism reference may be had to my copending application, entitled Safety Mechanism for Forging Machines, Serial No. 118,805, filed even date herewith.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the die slide 4 will be provided with an extension 60 shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3 which is mounted in a slide in the bed frame 1 positioned on the opposite or stationary die side of the machine. Reference may be had to Criley Patent 1,966,925 for a more complete disclosure of a die slide that may be employed with the present invention. The die slide is provided with a bottom liner 61 and a side liner 62. As seen in FIG. 4, a moving die thrust plate 63 may be employed cooperating with the bottom liner 61 and the side liner 62 to hold moving die blocks 65, 66 and 67 within the die slide 4. Such die blocks through 67 are generally referred to as the moving or reciprocating gripping dies.

Similarly, the portion 29 of the frame 1 may be provided with a side liner 70 and a bottom liner 71 which cooperate with a thrust block or plate 72 (FIG. 4) to receive die blocks 73, 74 and '75. Such die blocks are generally referred to as the stationary die. Such dies meet along a parting line 76 and reciprocation of the die slide 4 will cause, in the illustrated embodiment, the die blocks 65 through 67 to move approximately 3 /2 inches away from the stationary die composed of the die blocks 73 through 75.

The moving die block 67 is cut away as shown at 89 to receive pairs of vertically spaced horizontally aligned die inserts 31 through 34. Such inserts may be fastened directly to the die blocks by means of suitable fastening means such as bolts or socket screws shown at and die holding wedges 86 may also be employed when fastening such inserts to the die block 67. Such die inserts will be provided with outwardly directed semicircular grooves adapted to engage and hold the cylindrical blanks in the proper positions for the forging tool 5 operation thereon.

Similarly, the stationary die block 75 is cut away as shown at 88 to receive pairs of horizontally aligned and vertically spaced die inserts 89, 90, 91 and 92. The inserts of such pairs furthest from the forging tool 5 may be fastened to the stationary die block 75 in the same manner as the inserts 81 through 84 are fastened to the moving die block 67. However, the inserts 89 through 92 adjacent the heading tool may be mounted in the die block 75 for limited movement and include cylindrical projections 93 extending through apertures 94 in the stationary die block 75. All of the movable die inserts 81 through 92 and the cylindrical extensions thereon may be substantially identical in form and only one will be described in detail. Each movable stationary die insert is provided with an enlarged cylindrical portion 95 which fits within a shouldered recess 96 permitting, for example, inch movement of the insert therewithin. An enlargement 97 is provided in the cylindrical aperture 94 to receive the cap 98 on the projection 93 attached to the movable die insert 89. Abutting such cap but not attached thereto is a cylindrical push rod 99 which extends through a cylindrical hole or bore 100 in the portion 29 of the bed frame 1. The distal end of such push rod may extend, for example, approximately of an inch beyond the outer finished wall 101 of the portion 29 of the bed frame *1. The end of such rod is in engagement with a piston 102 mounted in a cylinder 103 which fits suitably within adapter plate 30. Accordingly, push rods 99, 104, 105 and 106 are provided for the movable die inserts 39 through 92, each of which is actuated for movement respectively by the pistons 102, 107, 108 and 109. Such pistons are then mounted in the cylinders 103, 110, 111 and 112, the ends of which open into passageway 113 which interconnects all of the ends of such cylinders manifolding the same. Couplings 114 and 115 may be provided in the adapter plate 30 coupling such cylinders to a suitable source of hydraulic pressure through lines 116 and 117.

An air-over-hydraulic system may be employed to supply hydraulic fluid under extreme pressures to the blind ends of the cylinders which are manifolded with each other to exert high pressures on the pistons which in turn exert such pressure on the movable die inserts through the rods 99, 104, 105 and 106. The cylinders 103, etc. may, for example, be 2 inches long and have an inside diameter of 2 inches and the pistons 102, etc. may have a 2 inch outside diameter and be 1 inches long.

The die inserts 89 through 92 will, of course, be pr0- vided with semi-circular cylindrical grooves adapted to cooperate with the grooves in the die inserts 81 through 84, but it will be understood that such grooves will not be completely semi-circular, but somewhat less than a half circle so that the faces of the die inserts will not contact each other when gripping a blank therebetween.

The maximum movement obtained by the pistons 102, etc. will be the of an inch which the rods 99, etc. profeet beyond the finished bed frame wall 101. In this mannor, the piston will bottom against the bed frame and not in the dies. Accordingly, the lines 117 and 116 connected to an air operated fluid pressure booster system may provide a 3,000 p.s.i. hydraulic pressure to the blind ends. of the cylinders which will in turn exert up to 400 tons of pressure on the movable die inserts in the stationary die block 75'.

The die blocks 65, 66 in the die slide 4 and the die blocks 73 and 74 in the bed frame need not be provided with cylindrical grooves and such may serve as a backstop for the cylindrical blanks.

The adapter plate 30 may be fastened to the side of the portion 29 of the bed frame 1 by a series of socket head cap screws as shovm at 120 in FIG. 2 and it can readily be seen that such hydraulic back-up cylinders can be provided in a neat compact package simply mounted on the exterior of the bed frame. For example, both the spring pressure cylinders of the transfer mechanism 31 and the hydraulic cylinders of the die mechanism may be included in the adapter plate 3t) which is the illustrated embodiment is only 3 inches wide.

It will now be understood that as the die slide 4 moves into gripping position bringing the movable die block 67 toward the stationary die block 75, the grooves 121 in the die inserts 81 through 84- will engage cylindrical blanks held by the transfer fingers 2i) and 25 and movement to the gripping position will cause the blanks to be gripped by the opposed die inserts. The hydraulic back-up mechanism will allow a variation in the position of the die inserts 89 through 92 to compensate for variations in the diameters of the blanks yet the high pressure exerted by such hydraulic back-up will prevent the blanks from being shoved through or pulled from the gripping dies.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In an upsetting forging machine having a first gripping die including a plurality of vertically spaced die cavities, a second horizontally reciprocable gripping die including corresponding opposed die cavities adapted to be reciprocated into and out of cooperative work-gripping relationship to said first gripping die thus to exert a gripping pressure on a workpiece within such cavities, and a third die horizontally reciprocable in a direction substantially normal to such reciprocation of said second gripping die to engage and upset an end portion of a workpiece thus gripped by said gripping dies; individual fluid pressure back-up means for each of such cavities in at least one of said gripping dies operative to exert an increased gripping pressure on the workpiece therein.

2. In an upsetting forging machine having a first gripping die including a plurality of vertically spaced die cavities, a second horizontally reciprocable gripping die including corresponding opposed die cavities adapted to be reciprocated into and out of cooperative work-gripping relationship to said first gripping die, and a third die horizontally reciprocable in a direction substantially normal to such reciprocation of said second reciprocable gripping die to engage and upset an end portion of a workpiece thus gripped by said gripping dies; individual hydraulic back-up means for each of such cavities in at least one of said gripping dies operative to vary the distance therebetween to exert a substantially constant high gripping pressure on such workpiece regardless of minor variations of diameter thereof.

3. In an upsetting forging machine having a first sta tionary gripping die including a plurality of vertically spaced die cavities, a second horizontally reciprocable gripping die including corresponding opposed die cavities adapted to be reciprocated into and out of cooperative work-gripping relationship to said first gripping die to exert a gripping pressure on a workpiece within such cavities, and a third die horizontally reciprocable in a direction substantially normal to said reciprocation of said reciprocable gripping die to engage and upset an end portion of a workpiece thus gripped by said gripping dies; die insert means for each of such cavities mounted in said gripping dies, and hydraulic back-up means for at least one of said die insert means for each cavity operative to exert an increased gripping pressure on such workpiece.

4. In an upsetting forging machine having a first gripping die, a second horizontally reciprocable gripping die adapted to be reciprocated into and out of cooperative work-gripping relationship to said first gripping die, and a third die horizontally reciprocable in a direction substantially normal to such reciprocation of said reciprocable gripping die to engage and upset an end portion of a workpiece thus gripped by said gripping dies; means mounting at least one of said gripping dies for limited movement, and fluid pressure back-up means for said one gripping die adapted to maintain a constant high gripping pressure on such workpiece regardless of minor variations in diameter thereof said fluid pressure back-up means comprising a plurality of vertically spaced die inserts in said first gripping die, means mounting each said die insert for short distance movement toward and away from such workpiece, and respective fluid cylinder means for each said die insert operative to exert a substantial gripping pressure on the workpiece.

5. A forging machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said die inserts extend through apertures in said first gripping die and are engaged by push-rods extending through the machine frame adjacent said first gripping die, an adapter plate mounted on said machine frame and including a plurality of hydraulically operated pistons adapted to engage said push-rods thus to move said die inserts.

6. A forging machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said push-rods extend a short distance beyond said ma chine frame, the maximum stroke of said pistons being limited by said machine frame.

7. A forging machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said hydraulic cylinder means are mounted in said adapter plate, and means manifolding said hydraulic cylinder means with a source of fluid under pressure.

8. In an upsetting forging machine having a first gripping die mechanism including a plurality of vertically spaced die cavities, a second horizontally reciprocable gripping die mechanism including corresponding die cavities adapted to be reciprocated into and out of cooperative work-gripping relationship to said first gripping die mechanism, and a third die horizontally reciprocable in a direction substantially normal to such reciprocation of said reciprocable gripping die mechanism to engage a projecting end portion of a workpiece thus gripped within such cavities by said gripping die mechanisms; movable insert means mounted in one of said gripping die mechanisms for each of such cavities therein, and hydraulic back-up means for each of said movable inserts adapted to exert a high gripping pressure on such workpiece regardless of minor variations in diameter thereof.

9. A forging machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said movable die inserts are mounted in said first gripping die mechanism and extend through apertures therein, rod means extending through the frame of such machine adjacent said first gripping die mechanism adapted to engage and move said die inserts, and hydraulic pistoncyciinder means mounted on the exterior of said machine frame adapted to engage said rod means thus to move said die inserts.

10. A forging machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said piston-cylinder means are mounted in an adapter plate mounted on the exterior of said machine, and means to supply said adapter plate with hydraulic fluid under pressure.

11. A machine as set forth in claim 10 including die inserts mounted in said horizontally reciprocable gripping die for each of such cavities therein adapted to cooperate with the movable die inserts in said first gripping die to 13. A forging machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein grip such workpieces therehetween in a plurality of versaid first and second gripping die mechanisms include tically spaced forging stations whereby said third horizonback stops for such workpieces. tally reciprocable die will be operative to upset the proj i d thereof 5 References Cited in the file of th1s patent 12. A forging machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein UNITED STATES PATENTS said rod means extend beyond said machine frame a short distance to be engaged by pistons within said cylinders, 2 1; the extent of said rod means beyond said frame limiting 3,007,181 Fewer Nov 7, 1961 the extent of movement of said pistons. 10 

1. IN AN UPSETTING FORGING MACHINE HAVING A FIRST GRIPPING DIE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED DIE CAVITIES, A SECOND HORIZONTALLY RECIPROCABLE GRIPPING DIE INCLUDING CORRESPONDING OPPOSED DIE CAVITIES ADAPTED TO BE RECIPROCATED INTO AND OUT OF COOPERATIVE WORK-GRIPPING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FIRST GRIPPING DIE THUS TO EXERT A GRIPPING PRESSURE ON A WORKPIECE WITHIN SUCH CAVITIES, AND A THIRD DIE HORIZONTALLY RECIPROCABLE IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SUCH RECIPROCATION OF SAID SECOND GRIPPING DIE TO ENGAGE AND UPSET AN END PORTION OF A WORKPIECE 